The number of people affected with the West Nile virus in Greece has reached 16.

The Greek authorities have taken measures and have started to spray the areas populated by the mosquitoes that carry the disease, the Bulgarian National Radio reported Tuesday.

The chief physician of the “Limodon” Hospital in Greece’s Thessaloniki has confirmed that out of the 24 patients, hospitalized for meningitis for the past month, 16 have been affected with the West Nile virus.

The West Nile virus begins with a fever, high temperature, nausea and vomiting, which are the symptoms of an ordinary virus infection.

However, the symptoms turn very fast into encephalitis and meningitis and the infected need urgent hospitalization.

Officials from the Greek hospital have also confirmed that two of the three people who died in the last days have been infected with the virus, but have died as a result of other health problems.

The epidemiologists from Thessaloniki who treat the infected patients are unanimous that the virus is risky for older people.

The hospitalized people are over 70 years of age. Two youth have already been released from the hospital in good health condition.

The doctors suppose that there are more people affected with the West Nile virus without displayed symptoms of fever.

The Greek Health Ministry has stated that the most effective way for combating the deadly mosquitoes would be the spraying, which has already begun in the north part of the country.

The swamps of the rivers are closely watched because they are likely to have outbreaks of the mosquitoes.

The Bulgarian Health Ministry stated Monday that they have not detected any deadly mosquitoes and have not registered any cases of the West Nile virus in the country.